TV presenter Sara Khalifa sentenced to death in Cairo drug-trafficking case
The 39-year-old presenter and 11 others received death sentences; the verdict follows seizures of over 750 kg and may be appealed.
Egyptian television presenter Sara Khalifa, 39, was sentenced to death by hanging alongside 11 other defendants after a Cairo court found them guilty in one of the country's largest synthetic-drug production and smuggling cases. The verdict sparked shock and intense reaction inside the courtroom, where Khalifa reportedly wept and pleaded for mercy.
Prosecutors describe a hidden criminal network
Authorities say Khalifa — known to millions as the host of the program "Impossible Mission," where she investigated crime and security topics — ran an organized criminal group that procured materials for producing synthetic drugs, distributed those drugs and possessed unregistered firearms. Prosecutors say the investigation uncovered more than 750 kilograms of narcotics and precursor materials and identified two Cairo apartments used as improvised laboratories.
Outside her television work, Khalifa is described as a businesswoman who owned an aesthetic surgery clinic and an event-production company. She had an Instagram following of more than 2.5 million, where she frequently shared details of a glamorous lifestyle.
In court, Khalifa denied the accusations and appealed to the judge. She told the court: "Please, listen to me, sir. My parents raised me well, they are people who pray and I do not need money from drugs." On social media she had repeatedly asserted her innocence: "I have never smoked a cigarette in my life. I swear to God, I am innocent."
The larger trial involved 28 defendants in total. In addition to the 12 death sentences handed down, judges issued nine life terms and acquitted seven people. The death sentences were issued after consultation with the country's Grand Mufti.
The ruling is not yet final. Khalifa's legal team may appeal to the Cassation Court. Separately, she and several associates had previously been given three-year prison sentences in another case involving the kidnapping and assault of her personal driver — prosecutors say police found video of the incident on her phone.
Photo: press material from the event
